NORFOLK, Va. — The 49th annual Harborfest officially kicked off Friday with the iconic Parade of Sail.

On the Elizabeth River, the AJ Meerwald and several ships dazzled the waterfront.

“We’ve been here many years in the past,” explained Captain Fern Hoffmann. Ships and vessels from across the seas made their way to Hampton Roads.

Watch: What to expect at Harborfest 2025 What to expect at this years Harborfest

The nearly 100-year-old schooner traveled from New Jersey to share its rich history as an original vessel.

“You can feel the history seeping through the soles of your feet,” says Hoffmann.

“Even when we’re not in the Delaware Bay, which is her home waters, the history really ties into the history of the environment and labor throughout this country,” shared Locke Huntington–B

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